Gratitude breaks the spell of Writers Block |
Staring at a blank page is like staring into a snowfield. The snow, untouched by civilization and unmarked by living creatures, blinds you for a few minutes, it glistens reflecting subtle shades of pure white and rainbows at odd angles. If you stare at the snow too long, you get lost in the interplay of light and shadow. As the day wears on, you become awestruck at the beauty of the snow's perfection. You marvel at the way an oak tree cast its ebony shadow across the pure white snow. You watch the tree's shadow change, grow and shrink, as Earth turns and the sun moves from morning to evening. If you stand out in the snow too long without moving, you risk snow bite or freezing. If you are fortunate, a red fox will walk across your line of sight. The fox will leave his footprints written in the snowfield. As you watch the fox move, the spell holding you in one spot staring at the snow is broken. You are free to go inside out of the cold and out of danger. I must say, writing 500 words a day isn't difficult, unless I'm attempting to write on a single subject. On Monday, October 28, 2013, I began posting my weekly goals at "Weekly Goals" . On Tuesday, October 29, 2013 I began keeping track of may accomplished goals in this journal. "O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds." Bah'u'll'h The Hidden Words of Bah'u'll'h, Part I.'From the Arabic, #31, page 11 'Heinlein's Rules for Writers Rule One: You Must Write Rule Two: Finish What Your Start Rule Three: You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order Rule Four: You Must Put Your Story on the Market Rule Five: You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold' Robert A. Heinlein It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon the day-star of wisdom and utterance shineth resplendent. Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Pages 21-29: gr 32 I changed the way I did entries in this book several times. Beginning on March 21, 2018 the entries will cover the topics of spiritual, inspirational, and religions. However, the genres it will be under are Women's, Inspirational, and Spiritual with a tag of Religious. |
Istiqlal (Majesty) 3 Jamal (Beauty) 178 B.E. - Thursday, April 29, 2021 On the last Thankful Thursday in April 2021, I am thankful... ...that "April: National Poetry Writing Month" was featured in "Spiritual Newsletter (April 28, 2021)" . ...for fresh brewed black coffee. ...that I was able to order a new smartphone from Consumer Cellar. ...for the chocolate ice cream cone I had for my afternoon snack. ...that my Bank of America checking account isn't overdrawn today. ...for YouTube because I can access Baha'i songs and talks on my tablet. |
Istijlal (Majesty) 14 Jalal (Glory) 178 B.E. - Thursday, April 22, 2021 On the fourth Thankful Thursday in April 2021, In am thankful ... ...for the merit badge I received this last week. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the fresh brewed black coffee I had on this beautiful spring morning. ...that I am this months winner in "Stormy's poetry newsletter & contest" with "Dreams of Sparrows" . ...for the chocolate chip cookies I had to go with my coffee this morning. ...that I have internet access, because I can read positive news stories on Bahá’í World News Service , which is The official news source of the worldwide Bahá’í community. ...for the sweet home brewed iced tea I had for my lunch today. ...that I was able to read Bahai.org: International website sees major redesign on 25th year since launch . I will be exploring the new website over the next few weeks. |
Istijlal (Majesty) 8 Jalal (Glory) 178 B.E. - Thursday, April 15, 2021 My Serenity journal has been an educations and has made me more appreciative of the Universal House of Justice (the world governing body of the Baha'i Faith. The Serenity Journal has sever different Bible verse from numerous translations of the Christian scriptures. At first, these translations appear extremely different from each other; although, if you compare the translation with the verse from the King James Translation of the Bible you can see that how the verse is a loose translation of the Holy Bible. I still wonder how authentic the translations are, but I can see there are similarities to the original King James Version. The Universal House of Justice oversees and authenticates the translations of the Baha'i scriptures from the original Persian and Arabic that they were revealed in. Translations that have not been authenticated by the Universal House of Justice are referred to as provisional translation. For me, this is helpful when it comes to reading the scriptures. I can still read and mediation on the provisional translations knowing that their may be some slight changes when they are authenticated. On the third Thankful Thursday in April 2021, I am grateful ... ...for Merit badges received between 4/8/21-4/14/21. ...that I have a ZTE Tablet because I can access YouTube videos while I am working on the computer. ...for fresh brewed black coffee on this beautiful spring morning. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the chicken wings and baked potatoes I had for lunch today. ...that the official copy of my birth certificate came today. |
Istijlal (Majesty) 1 Jalal (Glory) 178 B.E. - Thursday, April 8, 2021 Feast of Glory On the Second Thankful Thursday in April 2021, I am grateful ... ...for the merit badges I received between 4/2/21-4/8/21. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn. ...for fresh brewed hot coffee on this beautiful spring morning. ...that I was able to pay the power bill today through my banks bill pay. ...for the chocolate covered doughnut I had to go with my coffee. ...that with everything going on today, I got a blog entry and a poem completed. |
Jalal (Glory) 15 Baha (Splendor) 178 B.E. - Saturday, April 3, 2021 I found a quote my muse can't use, but doesn't want to discard. I'll keep it filed for the future to prompt a meditation. Facebook Status Update Make it a good day and take a moment to pray for world peace and unity. Kamal (Perfection) 16 Baha (Splendor) 178 B.E. - Monday, April 5, 2021 Facebook Status Update Looking forward to Ridvan, to celebrating Baha'u'llah's Declaration to proclaiming the Abha Beauty Fidal (Grace) 17 Baha (Splendor) 178 B.E. - Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Facebook Status Update A beautiful day In Las Vegas, Nevada The birds are singing Idal (Justice) 18 Baha (Splendor) 178 B.E. - Wednesday, April 7, 2021 Facebook Status Update Joyful spring morning birds express their gratitude singing happily. Fidal (Grace) 6 Jalal (Glory) 178 B.E. - Tuesday, April 13, 2021 Facebook Status Update Cottonwood trees shade Lilac bushes and green grass Raindrops keep falling Nightingales warbling Their songs reverberating Throughout the forest Idal (Justice) 7 Jalal (Glory) 178 B.E. - Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Facebook Status Update Joy is knowing God, Answers prayers in many ways We have to keep our eyes open For the answers. Idal (Justice) 13 Jalal (Glory) 178 B.E. - Wednesday, April 21, 2021 Facebook Status Update I contemplate the pain in my left... or is it my right knee? Sometimes, the pain moves. I think to find a more comfortable position. Fidal (Grace) 1 Jamal (Beauty) 178 B.E. - Tuesday, April 27, 2021 Feast of Jamal Facebook Status Update One heart at a time the world is gathering beneath the Tree of Life. |
Istijlal (Majesty) 13 Baha (Splendor) 178 B.E. - Thursday, April 1, 2021 On the first Thankful Thursday in April 2021, I am grateful ... ...for the merit badges I received between 3/26/21-4/1/21. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...that I have all the music picked out for the Feast of Glory. ...for the banana I had with my coffee on Wednesday morning. ...that I was able to listen to the audio reading of "One Common Faith" https://www.bahaiblog.net/2021/03/one-common-faith-audio-reading/#more-66607. ...for fresh brewed hot coffee on this beautiful spring morning. ...that "Your Honor, the dog innocent" was featured in "Comedy Newsletter (March 31, 2021)" . ...for the coffee cake to go with my coffee this morning. ...that "No Easter Bunny" was featured in "Fantasy Newsletter (March 31, 2021)" . ...for the chicken tenders and fries I had for lunch, ...that "On Alexander Pope's The Universal Prayer" was featured in "Spiritual Newsletter (March 31, 2021)" . ...for the 14 poems Ive written to 'Abdu'l-Baha for the Centenary of His Ascension. ...that I discovered the following quote posted on Facebook from one of the groups I'm a member of. "The Messengers who are alluded to in the Baha'i authoritative texts as being 'Manifestations' are Adam, Noah, Hud, Salih, Krishna, Moses, Abraham, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha'u'llah. This list is not intended to be a definitive or complete list of the Manifestations. The Baha'i Writings observe that entire cycles of Manifestations are lost to the collective memory of man, and all evidence of Their Dispensations has been entirely eradicated. However, in the Baha'i texts are cogent discussions about the distinctions between Manifestations and the 'minor prophets.' " 'Abdu'l-Baha notes that the independent Manifestations of universal prophethood are like the sun, while lesser prophets are like the moons reflecting the power of the Manifestation. Thus Moses was a Manifestation of God while his brother Aaron was a minor prophet. Stated another way, where Moses spoke on behalf of God [a revelation direct from God], Aaron spoke on behalf of Moses." John Hatcher1 Footnotes |